Arrest of Crime Boss Coordinating Southern Ukraine Operations
The National Police of Ukraine has dismantled the operations of a crime boss known as «Naum», who coordinated criminal groups in the southern regions of the country. This individual actively operated in Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Kherson regions, controlling penal colonies and demanding millions of hryvnias in the interests of the Russian Federation.
Naum's influence extended over the criminal environment and places of detention, where he appointed «watchers», controlled financial flows, organized drug trafficking, and exerted pressure on inmates and their families.
He was recognized among Russian «thieves in law», including figures like «Shakro Molodoy», «Koba Rustavsky», and others. Under their guidance, Naum reported on his activities and transferred part of his criminal proceeds to a financial fund that supported the criminal structure. Through these connections, he gained a status that allowed him to influence criminal processes in southern penal institutions.
His activities were documented by investigators from the Main Investigative Department of the National Police in collaboration with operatives from the Department of Strategic Investigations. The police conducted 50 searches across four regions of Ukraine, leading to the arrest of the «watcher» under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.
Among the criminal episodes documented during the investigation was an attempt to seize an agricultural enterprise, where a businessman who refused to comply was demanded to pay 550 thousand dollars or transfer property.
The police also recorded numerous abuses in detention facilities, particularly systematic extortion of money from detainees who did not adhere to criminal «rules». Intimidation and threats forced the victim to transfer over 86 thousand hryvnias, which his mother sent to accounts held by front persons.
Based on the collected evidence, Naum has been notified of suspicion under Articles 255-1 and 189 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Two other individuals have also been charged, and Naum has been taken into custody.
The penalties for the charged articles can reach up to 15 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Documentation measures were conducted in cooperation with the State Criminal Enforcement Service of Ukraine, and the Prosecutor General's Office oversees the legal proceedings.
